History Archive

In the golden annals of India's history, a date gleams with extraordinary significance - the 26th of January, 1950. Seven decades have flown since that monumental day, a day that etched the ceaseless labour and dedication of 389 steadfast individuals into the robust framework of a fledgling nation, now standing tall and proud. A beacon of light in the darkness, the Constitution of India was brought to life, embodying the very essence of unity in diversity.

"We, the People Of India." The phrase resonates with deep emotions of pride, history, and unity. Such is the gravitas of our self-imposed Constitution that with these opening words, we pledge an unsaid duty to ourselves and our nation. But, as citizens of this vast and diverse land, do we truly understand the depth and implications of our Constitution? In order to appreciate and uphold the spirit of these written laws, it's imperative that we dive deep into the heart and soul of the Constitution – the debates, the interpretations, and the amendments.

It's truly astounding. Indians emptied their pockets, gave their life's earnings, all for the cause of freedom. Yet, what did Nehru do with the accumulated treasure of the INA? He contemplated giving a chunk of it to Pakistan. The very thought feels like a slap in the face of every Indian who ever contributed. "Pakistan had claimed a part of the said assets and it was agreed that the same should be divided between India and Pakistan in the ratio of 2:1," Nehru, our very first Prime Minister post-Independence, penned in his communication to Bengal's then Chief Minister regarding the INA funds procured from Singapore.

Mahatma Gandhi, an iconic figure in India's freedom struggle, once refrained from allowing 'modern medicine' for his ailing wife, Kasturba. However, when it came to another family member, Manu, his views were seemingly different. This revelation poses a pertinent question: Why was there a difference in his approach?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently brought up a somber memory from India's past in his address to the Lok Sabha. He recollected the day when the Indian Air Force (IAF) was commanded to launch an aerial assault on Aizawl, Mizoram, in 1966. His exact words were, "On 5th March 1966, the Congress-led government commanded its Air Force to target the defenseless residents of Mizoram. The Congress owes an explanation: Was it the Air Force of some foreign land? Weren't the Mizoram people our own citizens? Shouldn't the Indian Government have been their protector?"

"Betrayal is the birthplace of resentment": Diving into murky depths of Nehru & Elwin's policies in Northeast India unveils a legacy of disruption, a region converted, culture exploited & nation betrayed - glaring testament to their ill-conceived actions

In October 1964, an article emerged from United News of India (UNI) with a cryptic statement - Nagaland safe from Sadhus. What did this unusual remark mean?

The relationship between India and Portugal, particularly in the realm of trade, dates back to 1948 with the arrival of Vasco Da Gama. As one of the earliest European powers to set foot on the Indian subcontinent in 1498, the Portuguese wielded substantial influence for close to two centuries. This dominance, however, was gradually overshadowed by the entry of the British East India Company, which reduced Portuguese control to Goa, Daman-Dui, and Dadra-Nagar Haveli.

In the annals of Indian history, the devotional hymn 'Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram' resonates as a symbol of our freedom struggle, its melody echoing the spirit of unity and peace. This sacred chant, also known as Ram Dhun, is not merely a song but a testament to the profound devotion of Shri Lakshmanacharya, a poet and ardent devoteer of Lord Vishnu. However, the version that has been etched into our collective consciousness is not the original one, but a rendition popularised by Mahatma Gandhi.

The relationship between Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, and the Hindu Mahasabha leader and revolutionary Ashutosh Lahiry was marked by a significant incident that revealed a clash of ideologies and differing approaches to addressing the plight of Bengali refugees during the partition of India.

The revelation of Jawaharlal Nehru's views, as quoted by Dinesh Trivedi, a former Congress MP from Gujarat, has sparked a significant debate regarding the qualifications of not only Congress President Sonia Gandhi but also her children Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi to lead the government. Trivedi, now a spokesperson for the Trinamul Congress of Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata, has brought to light an incident involving Nehru, then President Babu Rajendra Prasad, and Home Minister Sardar Patel's refusal to entertain the desire of Maharaja Yashwantrao Holkar of Indore to designate his son Richard, born from his American wife, as his successor.